Somerset target stronger finishes after sixth Championship runners-up placing since 2010

Somerset captain Lewis Gregory and director of cricket Andy Hurry have identified failures to turn strong positions into victories as central to the county's latest unsuccessful County Championship title challenge. In interviews reported by BBC Sport on Monday, both pointed to opportunities earlier in the campaign rather than focusing only on the late defeat that shifted the race towards Warwickshire.

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Somerset had led the table by four points with two matches remaining as they pursued a first Championship title. Defeat against Yorkshire at Headingley in their penultimate fixture handed the initiative to Warwickshire, who secured the trophy in the final round. Somerset finished second for the sixth time since 2010 and remain one of three counties never to have won the competition, according to the BBC report.

Gregory told BBC Radio Somerset that two matches during the middle of the season had been particularly important. His assessment was that the team had reached favourable positions but had not been decisive enough to turn those advantages into the results required. He said those opportunities could have put Somerset in a position where no other side could win the title.

Hurry identified consecutive defeats against Yorkshire at Taunton and Glamorgan in Cardiff during May. Yorkshire recovered from a first-innings deficit of 112 runs to beat Somerset by 75 runs. Glamorgan's victory came by two wickets and was their first home win in Division One. Those results formed the specific examples behind Hurry's call for Somerset to improve their ability to finish matches from promising positions.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live before Warwickshire were confirmed as champions, Hurry acknowledged Glamorgan's resilience and said converting such games into wins would be a major focus. His comments placed the emphasis on improving outcomes in matches Somerset believed they could have won, while recognising the resistance provided by their opponents.

Despite the disappointment, both senior figures also highlighted reasons for encouragement. Gregory said players would benefit from the experience, while Hurry praised the bowling unit and contributions from the top six. Hurry said he had seen progress in Somerset's approach, but made clear that the objective remained winning trophies consistently.